Who has said that it is necessary to drive long distances for worthy Day Trips from Rome?
Located at just 30 km from the city center, Tivoli and its stunning Villas are the ideal getaway within easy reach for anyone willing to explore Roman and Renaissance Heritage.
Tivoli, a small town in the North East area of the Eternal City, owes its name to the Latin word Tibur, which is also the name of the Roman street that still leads to this ancient town, Tiburtina.
As the roman poet Virgil shows us in his masterpiece Aeneid, the old center of Tibur was still known at his time under the name of Tibur Superbum, and there is evidence that witnesses Tivoli existence even long before Rome foundation.
Both Roman Emperors and wealthy families during the Renaissance understood how this charming town could play a central role both in politics development and administration. Emperor Augustus lived here and his successor Hadrian established in Tivoli his countryside royal residence.
Many centuries later, Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, the grandson of Pope Alexander VI commissioned the construction of his personal palace, that still bears the name of his powerful family.
Today we will discover the highlights of a day trip to the lovely Villa d’Este and Hadrian Villa.
Hadrian Villa
This astonishing archaeological site, part of Unesco World Heritage, is a true must see in every itinerary in Tivoli. Hadrian Villa bears the same name of the Emperor who commissioned its construction in the 2nd century AD.
During Roman Empire, it was a common practice for Emperors to have more than one mansion and Hadrian wasn’t the first: this allowed him to relax away from everyday life. The landscape nearby Tibur was very popular at that time and it offered breathtaking views of the Hills around Rome, therefore Romans truly enjoyed spending their time there. Soon, Emperor Hadrian abandoned his royal mansion on the Palatine Hill to stay permanently in his Villa in Tivoli, ruling the Empire directly from his new official residence.
Today, Hadrian Villa covers an area with more than 30 buildings, much larger than Pompeii. Despite its dimensions, much of its treasures are still to be uncovered and what we are able to still is only a part of it. As we step into the ancient site, we are surrounded by many fountains, pools and sculptures almost resembling reality and still well preserved.
Emperor Hadrian traveled a lot around the Empire, until reaching its most remote borders. Being such a globetrotter, he brought with him unforgettable memories of the places he saw, so he tried to recreate them in his Villa in Tivoli, especially in the area of the Canopus, which resembles its Egyptian twin near Alexandria.
How to get to Villa Adriana from Rome? This stunning Villa is very easy to reach, both with a 30 minutes ride / drive from Rome city center and by the suburban train leaving every 30 minutes from central stations. Although it is not the most visited site around, it is highly recommended to book your Hadrian’s Villa tickets in advance to maximize your tour time.
Villa d’Este
The impressive Villa d’Este, located on the upper hillside of Tivoli surely offers the best panoramas over the green area around. This fairytale Villa, which is part of Unesco World Heritage Sites, is a perfect example of a typical Italian Renaissance garden, adorned with massive fountains whose water features seem to be brought to life.
After entering from the main entrance from Piazza Trento, where you can also get your Villa d’Este tickets, a small but nice Courtyard, hosting the Fountain of Venus, opens in front of you.
The real must sees of your stop in Villa d’Este are the apartments of Cardinal Ippolito II, decorated with sumptuous colorful frescos and the thrilling view from the great windows on the upper floors.
Whatsmore, Villa d’Este is fully equipped / provided with a myriad of fountains, each one designed with detailed use of materials and representing a different legend and myths of Roman and Greek origins, such as the Fountain of Neptune and Pegasus.
Most of the gardens are conceived by the artist Pirro Ligorio, however, many other masters contributed to this, such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
Are you dreaming of your relaxing trip to Tivoli Villas? Contact us and our staff will arrange it for you!
